Slowworm

Slowworm, a limbless lizard that inhabits forests and grasslands of Europe, western Asia, and Algeria. It has the sinuous, gliding movements of a worm or a snake. The slow-worm reaches a length of about 20 inches (50 cm). It is covered with smooth, shiny scales and is bronze or greenish-bronze above and black below. It has long, sharp teeth and feeds on slugs, earthworms, and insects. Mating occurs in the spring; the young, usually numbering from 6 to 20, are born live in the late summer. The slowworm burrows into the ground and hibernates there over the winter.